Automatic lubricator for elevator guide rails



March 4, 1941. v o us N 2,233,635

AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR ELEVATOR GUIDE RAILS Filed March 18, 1939 I ZZZ/denial". fi "ederz 'C/E jl/az Zamsezc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LUBRICATOR FOR ELEVATOR GUIDE RAILS Frederick Northausen, Coburg, Victoria, Australia Application March 18,

6 Claims.

This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to automatic lubricators for the slide bars or rods of elevators, lifts or the like. The said invention has been devised to provide a lubricator that will be comparatively cheap to manufacture, and readily applicable to various types of lifts in order to positively lubricate the said slide bars or rods thereof whilst the lift or elevator is in operation.

The said invention has further reference to that type of lubricator wherein said slide bars or rods are automatically and continuously lubricated whilst the lift or elevator is working, so that during the inoperative periods of said lift or elevator, the lubricator ceases to function and thereby conserves the oil, while the excess of the latter which may be fed to said rod is led and directed back to the reservoir.

The invention is characterized in that the lubricator is in the form of a rotary element which is maintained in frictional engagement with the aforesaid slide bars or rods of the elevator the movement of which latter causes the element to rotate for such lubrication purposes, such rotation being specifically 'coontrolled in such a manner that the rotary element at times has a slipping motion.

There have been many and various types of this class of invention for the herein purpose.

My present invention however relates to specific improvements in that type having the following salient features:

The use of a reservoir containing oil, and resiliently mounted to retain an integral wiper shoe in direct contact with the slide bar or rod in the lift well, said reservoir having disposed therein a rotating element with its effective peripheral surface operating within a shaped slot in the said wiper shoe to be retained in frictional contact with the slide bar or rod, the movement of the lift causing the element to rotate and distribute o-il from the reservoir over the adjacent surface of the slide bar or rod. Means are also included in the shoe to direct the excess lubricant back into the reservoir. The rotary element may be provided with an eccentric or set off mounting whereby it is maintained by gravity in the operative position and in contact With the slide bar or rod.

This said rotary element is fed with oil from the thereunder reservoir by an endless chain passing through said reservoir and over a boss formed on said rotary element, and means are further herein employed for imparting a com- 1939, Serial No. 262,584

bined rotary and slipping action to the aforesaid rotary element.

I have found in practice that several disadvantages arise from the use of certain types in this class of invention, chief among which are (a) Excess oil is delivered to the slide bar or rod due to the rapid rotation of the rotary element thus flooding the shaped slot in the wiper shoe. This results naturally in a waste of oil, through said excess oil dripping or running from the main guide shoes of the elevator.

(b) The said rotary wheel or disc revolves at a high sped especially on occasions when the lift or elevator is running swiftly. This causes the said disc to vibrate and make intermittent tap- I pingnoises, which are transmitted to the elevato-r cage, and become objectionable.

The objects therefore of this invention are to overcome these disadvantages and also to provide means whereby an improved resilient mounting is employed between the lubricator casing and the said wiper shoe. Thus the coacting members are retained in their operative positions in a positive manner. Briefly the invention resides in: fixedly or adjustably fitted to a disc or cheeked Wheel immersed in the oil well. This disc wheel has a chain passing therearound which conveys the oil from said well to the rotary disc element .which contacts with the rod or bar aforesaid. These vanes or blades act as baffies and being immersed in the oil prevent the racing of the operative disc, thus maintaining the speed thereof Within predetermined limits, irrespective of the speed of the elevator or lift. (b) Flexibly mounting the casing of the device to the elevator shoe, by means of slotted lugs and therein coacting bolts, pins or the like. Also a stepped bracket securely anchored to the said shoe, and by an upstanding arm, flexibly controlling by coiled spring or springs, and set screw, the movement of the said casing in respect of the said rod or bar thus always maintaining a constant pressure between the casing and rod or bar. (c) The provision of a fibre, fabric or other tyre around the operative shoe contacting disc, to further deaden any noises and such like. I

In order however that the invention may be clearly understood the... same will be described with the aid of the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the automatic lubricator constructed in accordance with thisinvention and as fitted in operative position.

Figure 2 is a side sectional view of said lubri- (a) The provision of vanes or blades its cator, parts being shown in elevation for sake of clearness.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of said lubricator shown partly in section.

Figure 4 is a sidesectional elevation of a modification of the said invention.

In carrying my invention into practical eifect, the improved lubricator constructed in accordance therewith is automatic in operation, for the reason that said lubricator does not function until the lift or elevator commences to move. The oil is thereby conserved and is prevented from splashing or being wasted while the lift or elevator is inoperative, and which waste is a disadvantage and usually occurs with elevator lubricators of the class or type hitherto employed.

As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 it will be appreciated that a lubricator is employed and applied to each slide bar or rod supportingthe lift and is operatively disposed on the shoe thereof and thus moves in conjunction therewith and with the elevator. This slide bar or rod may of course be of any approved and suitable cross section. As illustrated the lubricator comprises a casing I having an oil reservoir I I in the bottom thereof.

This casing is provided with integral lugs I4 each made with a slot I6 through which pass a set screw I8, interscrewing into holes formed in an intermediate place IT. The latter is sandwiched between said lugs I4 and the lugs I of the slidable shoe I2 of the rod or bar I3 and by set screws I'Ia, said plate I1 is securely anchored to the said slidable shoe I2. A spring washer I9 is disposed between the head of said set screw I8 and the intermediate plate I! to maintain a grip between said casing lugs and the anchored intermediate plate I'I, while at the same time, by the slotted openings I6, allowing of a substantially free slidable movement therebetween, to allow of self-adjustment between the herein operative elements.

In the hitherto mounting of the lubricator to the said slidable shoe I2, and associated members, the same has been found to be insecure and insufliciently positive.

To overcome this disadvantage, and according to this invention, I securely anchor to the said elevator shoe I2, by set screws 20, a stepped shaped bracket 2|, the upper arm 2 la of which is provided with an adjustable set screw 22. To the end of the latter is anchored a coiled spring 23, the opposite end of which is flexibly anchored to a lug 24 on the casing. course be duplicated if desired.) The purpose of this bracket and spring is to flexibly control the movement of the lubricator proper and take up any vibration or wear that may occur between the same and the rod or bar, and also to positively maintain said members in operative engagement with each other.

Disposed within the main casing I0 is a rotatable element comprising a wheel or disc 25 of suitable diameter which is carried ina bracket 26 arranged at an inclination within said casing and suspended from the top thereof. This bracket comprises spaced inclined arms uniting at their upper ends on a transverse spindle or axle 2'! the outer ends of which seat in recess 28 formed in the upper edges of the side walls of said casing Ill. The lower endsv of said bracket support the axle or spindle 29 of the rotary wheel or disc 25 which thereby isoffset or. out of vertical central alignment in relation to the supporting pivotal axis 21 thereof. This wheel or disc 25 (This spring may of' is formed at one side with a boss, stem or the like 30, positioned between spaced collars 3I32. These latter provide an annular groove in which I is mounted an endless chain 33 or other flexible medium to depend into the oil. reservoir II and which during rotation, upwardly conveys the oil to the said disc or wheel 25. Thisflexible medium in its lower loop carries a double disc or checked wheel 34, the outer faces of which are provided with blades or vanes 35. These latter may be fixed or adjustably and removably fitted to said faces by set screws or bolts 35a and are thus .enabled to be angularly positioned as may be desired. .These blades or vanes 35' act as bafiles to retard or control the rotation of the disc.

wheel should the same tend to rotate at an excessive speed through the racing of the thereto driven disc wheel contacting with the rod or bar aforesaid, and impart to the latter a part rolling and part slipping movement, that is to say, when an increased speed of the elevator beyond what may be termed the normal, is reached, the disc wheel 25 will commence to slip being rotationally retarded by the bladed element 34-35, hence imparting a combined part rolling part slipping movement to said disc or wheel 25, thus controlling the flow of oil, and preventing theexcessive feed of same'to the slide bars or rods I3, resulting in a slow but positive feed of oil thereto, and overcoming flooding of such feed.

The adjustment of the blades or vanes however is to be so made as not'to excessively retard such rotation. If such were allowed to take place, the disc or wheel 25 would cease rotation,

and such would result in wear to such disc or wheel to such an extent as to form a flattened portion on its periphery, such of course being highly detrimentalto its positive and free operation of such element.

The wiper shoe 33 of the herein invention is mounted on the casing I0 and is formed with a central vertical slot or opening 31 into which a portion of the periphery of the disc or wheel 25 is adapted to project whereby said disc or wheel will contact directly with the slide bar or rod I3. As the spindle or axle 29 of the disc or wheel 25 is offset in relation to the supporting axis 21 of the bracket, a gravitational effect is achieved for the reason that the wheel or disc tends to swing forwardly and thereby retain the portion of said disc projecting through the slot or opening 3'! in the wiper shoe 35 directly and constantlyin contact with the slide bar or rod I3.

Further if desired, a tyre 25a may be fitted to said disc wheel; same being made of fibre, fabric or such like wearable and sound deadening material, to reduce or eliminate noise and such like.

Means may be employed and provided on the wheel or disc 25 to vary or control the quantity of oil to be delivered through the medium of the endless chain fromthe reservoir to the surface of the disc or wheel. V

The wiper shoe 36 fitted to the face of the casing I0 is formed with spaced inclined recesses 40 in its side walls which extend inwardly to vertical grooves 4| cut in'the corners-of 'the side walls and the rear wall of said shoe. The rear of the latter is provided with a flange 42 to seat against the adjacent wall of the casing.

opening 43 is left between the rear wall of the casing and the flange 42 (as shown in Figure 2) whereby superfluous oil from the shoe and slide bar, accumulated in the upper recesses 40 is allowed to percolate into the corner grooves 4|. and pass through and into said opening 43, and thereby return to and collect in the reservoir II, for

reuse.

The resiliently mounted casing provides for a constant engagement of the rotatable disc or wheel 25 with the slide bar or rod l3, and when the lift is moving in either direction the frictional engagement between the said disc 25 and slide bar or rod [3 causes the said disc to rotate, and the chain or the like mounted therewith is moved through the oil in the reservoir II to pick up and deliver a constant supply thereof to the said disc or wheel 25, and which by centrifugal force is deflected to the peripheral face edge thereof to be delivered during the rotation of said disc directly on to the slide bar or rod l3, the operation being continuous whilst the lift is moving in either direction.

The quantity of oil fed on to the slide bars or rods [3 depends on the pressure with which the wiper shoe 36 is forced against the bar or rod I3 and quantity of oil lifted by the chain or flexible member 33.

This pressure is controlled by the adjustable spring 23 and stepped bracket 2| and associated members. In combination with the latter the oil is controlled by the vane or bladed element 34-35 as aforesaid.

Should however lubrication be temporarily excessive the surplus oil will find its way back to the reservoir II through the slots or openings 40, 4|, 43 in the wiper shoe.

As illustrated in Figure 4 the lubricator may be operated without the chain 33 or like flexible element and in this application the rotary disc or wheel 25 may, if desired, be enlarged and part of its periphery submerged in oil within the reservoir II.

To this disc or wheel 25 is fitted the aforesaid blades or vanes 3435 the purpose whereof is identical with that as afore-described. In the absence of the chain 33', the oil in this case is lifted by and during the rotation of the disc .25 and distributed directly on to the slide bar or rod, in the manner aforesaid.

The excess oil in this case, which may be fed to the slide bar or rod I3, is returned through the slots, openings or passages 45-46 (which are upwardly positioned in the wiper shoe 3B), in a similiar manner to those referenced 40, 4|, 43, as before described.

A lubricator of the class previously and herein described is automatic in action and operation, only during the movement of the lift or elevator, and it will of course be obvious that mechanical improvements and modifications may be made and embodied therein without departing from the ambit, spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of an elevator or the like, comprising a casing mounted adjacent to the said slide bar on the elevator, a rotary element in frictional engagement with each respective slide bar during the movement of the elevator to impart lubrication to the said bar, the said rotary element being disposed above an oil reservoir, means. to deliver such oil to the rotary element, and means for controlling and regulating the speed of the said rotary element to prevent excess feed of such oil when the elevator speed is increased.

2. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of an elevator or the like, comprising a rotary flanged element within a casing, the said element being mounted adjacent to the said slide bar on said elevator, the said element being in frictional engagement with its respective slide bar during the movement of the elevator in either direction to impart lubrication to the said slide bar, a checked boss on the said rotary flanged element, said element being mounted on a spindle, angularly positioned brackets carrying said spindle, a pivot pin in the head of the main casing gravitatively carrying the said brackets and said element, an endless flexible chain member coacting on the said boss extending into an oil reservoir, and a rotary bladed element freely carried within the lower portion of said flexible chain member.

3. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of elevators or the like, comprising a casing mounted adjacent to the said slide bar on said elevators, a rotary flanged element housed within said casing and in frictional engagement with the respective slide bar, an endless chain passing over a boss of the said rotary flanged element, a cheeked element freely carried in the lower loop of said chain and blades adjustably fitted to said cheeked element to vary their angularity and to impart a baffling effect to the said checked element and associated members.

4. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of an elevator or the like, comprising a casing mounted adjacent to the said slide bar and on said elevators, a rotary flanged element housed within said casing and in frictional engagement with the respective slide bar, an endless chain passing over a boss of the said rotary flanged element for conveying lubricant from an oil reservoir, a rotary element carried in the lower loop of said chain, a shaped wiper shoe on the front face of the said casing partially embracing the said slide bar, a slot within said shoe through which the said rotary flanged element partially projects and coacts against the said slide bar, a stepped bracket anchored by one arm to the said elevator shoe, a spiral spring fitted and anchored through a set screw between the upper companion arm of the said stepped bracket and the said lubricating casing to maintain flexible connection therebetween, and slotted foot lugs coacting through set screws and spring washers, within the elevator shoe maintaining a substantial slidable movement therebetween.

5. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of an elevator or the like, comprising a casing mounted adjacent to the said slide bar and on the said elevator, a lubrication reservoir in said casing, a rotary element disposed in said reservoir of said casing with a portion of its periphery immersed in the oil in said reservoir, thesaid element being maintained in contact with the slide bar whereby during its rotation oil is fed v to the said slide bar, and blades directly fitted to the said rotating element to impart a halting effect thereto and prevent racing thereof.

6. An automatic lubricator for each slide bar of an elevator or the like, comprising a casing mounted adjacent to the slide bar and on the said elevator, a rotary flanged element within said casing, brackets pivotally held and gravitatively and angularly positioned within the said casing by a spindle carrying the said rotary flanged element, an endless flexible chain coacting on a boss of the said rotary element and depending within an oil reservoir for deliverin lubricant to the said flanged element, a rotary FREDERICK NORTHAUSEN. 

